overturn

/ˌəʊvəˈtɜːn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌəʊvərˈtɜːrn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌō-vər-ˈtərn/ (ame, mw)

overturn — 動詞

  • overturnpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • overturnshe / she / it
  • overturnedpast simple
  • overturning-ing form

1. to turn onto one side or upside down, or to make something do this

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

翻倒；翻覆

翻到側邊或上下顛倒

to turn onto one side or upside down, or to make something do this

例句

The fishing boat overturned in rough water near Green Island.

那艘漁船在綠島附近的急浪中翻覆了。

intransitive: boat overturns

A sudden turn overturned the cart and spilled oranges onto the road.

突然一轉彎把手推車翻倒了，柳橙也灑到路上。

transitive: overturn + cart

同義詞
  • tip over

    more common in everyday speech for something falling onto its side

  • capsize

    used mainly for boats turning over in water

  • upset

    more formal or report-like for causing a vehicle or container to turn over

反義詞
  • upright

    describes staying in the normal standing position

  • steady

    suggests not moving or falling over

文法句型

vehicle/boat/table overturn

overturn + cart/boat/table

用法筆記

Often used with vehicles, boats, tables, or boxes. In the intransitive pattern, the thing that flips is the subject; in the transitive pattern, a person, movement, or force causes the change.

常見錯誤

❌The bus overturned over on the bridge.
✅The bus overturned on the bridge.
💡the verb already includes the idea of turning over.
❌The wind overturned down the sign.
✅The wind overturned the sign.
💡use a direct object without 'down'.

2. to officially cancel a law, judgment, or decision after deciding it was wrong

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

推翻；撤銷

正式取消原先的裁決或法律

to officially cancel a law, judgment, or decision after deciding it was wrong

例句

The top court overturned the ban after a two-day hearing.

最高法院在兩天聽審後推翻了這項禁令。

common object: ban or ruling

Last June, judges overturned his murder conviction on appeal.

去年六月，法官在上訴程序中撤銷了他的謀殺定罪。

pattern: overturn a conviction

同義詞
  • reverse

    a broad word for changing an earlier decision or judgment

  • overrule

    very close, often used when a higher authority rejects another decision

  • revoke

    focuses on officially taking back a law, right, or decision

  • strike down

    common for courts declaring a law or rule invalid

反義詞
  • uphold

    to keep a ruling, law, or decision in force

  • confirm

    to say officially that a decision remains correct

文法句型

overturn a conviction

overturn a law

overturn a ruling

be overturned on appeal

用法筆記

The object is usually a ruling, conviction, law, ban, or official decision. The subject is often a court, judge, or other authority. Distinguish from sense 1, which is physical, and sense 3, which is specific to election results.

常見錯誤

❌The court overturned about the ban.
✅The court overturned the ban.
💡this sense takes the decision itself as the direct object.
❌The ruling overturned by the court.
✅The ruling was overturned by the court.
💡use the passive verb with 'was' when the ruling is the subject.

3. to defeat a party or candidate in an election by wiping out the lead they had be

3.動詞及物C2
釋義

翻轉選情

選舉中扳倒對方原有優勢

to defeat a party or candidate in an election by wiping out the lead they had before

例句

Labour overturned a 6,000-vote majority in the riverside seat.

工黨在這個河畔選區翻轉了六千票的多數優勢。

pattern: overturn a majority

After years of local anger, Maya overturned the minister's safe lead.

多年來的地方民怨，讓 Maya 翻轉了這位部長原本穩固的領先。

同義詞
  • defeat

    the broad everyday word for winning against a person or party

  • unseat

    focuses on removing a politician from office by beating them

  • oust

    stronger and more forceful, often used in political news

反義詞
  • hold

    to keep a seat or majority in an election

  • retain

    to continue to have the same seat or lead

文法句型

overturn a majority

overturn a lead

overturn a safe seat

用法筆記

Chiefly used in British election reporting. The object is usually a majority, lead, or seat rather than the whole election itself.

常見錯誤

❌The party overturned the election in Leeds.
✅The party overturned the minister's majority in Leeds.
💡this sense usually names the majority, lead, or seat that was lost.

overturn — 名詞